[481] Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to throw a yoke with a single hole into the great ocean. An easterly wind would carry it westward; a westerly wind would carry it eastward; a northerly wind would carry it southward; a southerly wind would carry it northward. And suppose there were there a blind turtle, which would rise to the surface once at the end of a hundred years. What do you think, bhikkhus — would that blind turtle ever insert its neck into that yoke with the single hole?
"That is impossible, venerable sir. If it ever might, venerable sir, it would be only at some time or other, after the passing of a long stretch of time."
Sooner, bhikkhus, would that blind turtle insert its neck into that yoke with the single hole; harder to obtain than that, I say, bhikkhus, is the human state for a fool who has once gone to the lower world (vinipāta). Why is that? Because there, bhikkhus, there is no conduct in accordance with the Dhamma, no righteous conduct, no doing of what is wholesome, no making of merit; there, bhikkhus, mutual devouring prevails — the preying upon the weak.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.